Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Is Flying Cheap Always Better

When it comes to finding bare bones airfares for even the most meager budget, there are many options. Whether you purchase a ticket on one of the popular budget airlines, scour the World Wide Web for the best deal, or engage in an alternative form of cheap travel, there are ways to find a cheap ticket. However, keeping the old adage, “you get what you pay for” in mind, flying on a cheap ticket can be anything but luxurious.

Typically, the easiest way to find the cheapest flight is to sacrifice your travel dates. By keeping a flexible schedule, you are most likely to find the least expensive flight available. However, that being said, having the luxury of a flexible schedule is not always available to all individuals, especially those individuals who have a strict work schedule or are looking to travel to attend a certain event. Also, staying flexible to find the cheapest airfare may find that you need to add extra nights onto your stay, meaning your hotel room and car rental will need to be extended, which costs you more cash.

Many individuals will travel great distances in order to find the cheapest ticket from a nearby airport. However, keep in mind that the further you travel the most gas, time, and effort is expended in order to keep the ticket prices down. Before you agree to drive a hundred miles to save money on your flight, consider if the associated travel expenses will outweigh the savings. The same goes for individuals agreeing to fly into airports other than the one of their desired destination.

If you are interested in flying on one of the budget airlines; however, you may be in for quite a surprise. Often, these budget airlines, including Jet Blue and even Southwest, are ranked high in customer satisfaction. Almost all airlines have stopped food service except on international flights or flight to Alaska or Hawaii due to prices, so budget airlines often have the same amenities as other airlines.

One of the cheapest ways to travel is to sign on to a courier service. By working as a courier, you will accompany a package on the flight and be responsible for meeting the intended party in order to sign over the package. This task often takes a few minutes, but the savings associated with flying as a courier are extreme. Often, trans-Atlantic flights are offered for under $100, or sometimes even free. Of course, by flying as a courier, your schedule and destination must be completely flexible. Also, you may not be allowed to travel on a round trip ticket, meaning that you will have to wait at the destination in order for another job to come open in order to return home.